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Truss: We must never again allow aggression like Putin’s to grow unchecked

The Foreign Secretary said Russia’s invasion of Ukraine should mark a ‘paradigm shift’ like that seen after 9/11.

Patrick Daly
Wednesday 09 March 2022 17:30 EST
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss is due to give a speech in Washington (Jim Watson, Pool via AP)
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss is due to give a speech in Washington (Jim Watson, Pool via AP) (AP)

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Aggression like Vladimir Putin’s must “never again” be allowed to “grow unchecked”, Liz Truss will warn the West, as she prepares to call for a “paradigm shift” in the wake of Russia’s assault on Ukraine.

The Foreign Secretary, in a speech in the US on Thursday, will make comparisons between the Russian president’s actions and the World Trade Centre terror attack in 2001, and will urge the international community to change its approach to dealing with antagonistic world leaders.

One of the three areas where she will say the UK wants to see stronger action is on forging stronger global alliances, including with countries not historically aligned to Britain, according to Foreign Office officials.

We must pledge that never again will we allow such aggression to grow unchecked

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss

Giving the Makins Lecture at the Atlantic Council think tank in Washington, the Cabinet minister will say it is time to end “strategic dependence” on hostile and authoritarian states, including a departure from using Russian energy.

It comes after the UK and the US on Tuesday announced they will phase out imports of Russian oil by the end of the year as part of increased sanctions on Moscow.

Ms Truss will also argue that allies must strengthen deterrence by spending more on defence and Nato, warning that the “era of complacency is over”.

The Foreign Secretary is expected to say that the West needs to become “tough” in its approach to global security in the wake of the Ukraine crisis in order to prevent future aggressors from making advances.

She will urge leaders to ramp up global pressure and “tighten the vice” on the Kremlin, including by implementing further sanctions, such as encouraging other countries to join in bringing about punitive measures and implementing a “full Swift ban”.

“We must rise to this moment. We must pledge that never again will we allow such aggression to grow unchecked,” Ms Truss is expected to say.

“That means acting now. It means being tough – because we know that the costs will only rise if we don’t.”

Ms Truss, who on Wednesday met US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, is scheduled to argue that Mr Putin has “launched a full-frontal assault” not just on Ukraine but “on the very foundation of our societies and the rules by which we coexist”.

She will add: “The invasion of Ukraine is a paradigm shift on the scale of 9/11.

“How we respond today will set the pattern for this new era.

“If we let Putin’s expansionism go unchallenged it would send a dangerous message to would-be aggressors and authoritarians around the world. We can’t allow that to happen.”

Labour shadow foreign secretary David Lammy, responding to Ms Truss’ pre-briefed comments, said the “world changed forever” when the Russian president “launched his heinous and illegal invasion” last month.

Mr Lammy, who is due to travel to Finland and Sweden for talks with foreign ministers on Thursday, said the attack on Kyiv “marked the final end of the post-cold war era”.

He added: “After 12 years of Conservative governments isolating Britain on the world stage, we need to bring Britain back to the table and deepen ties with our European partners.”

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